The case for an elected mayor with executive powers remains compelling; however, the debate now needs to move beyond the office of the mayor to the institutional autonomy of the municipality the mayor is expected to lead.
It is reported that the all-India average tenure of municipal commissioners is 10 months.
This brief argues that the case, therefore, is not simply for stronger mayors, but for stronger municipalities that enable elected leaders to govern effectively: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/beyond-strong-mayors-the-case-for-municipal-autonomy
orfonline.org
Beyond Strong Mayors: The Case for Municipal Autonomy
September 7, 2026 437 2
